Lions seniors bow out, but thirds and senior netballers through

By Yarrawonga Chronicle

Sep 3, 2024

Thirds’ Van Kreeck boots the ball long in the thirds 44 point elimination final at home. Photo by Les_Garbutt

Deniliquin Rams: 1.1, 4.3, 7.5, 14.9.93.

Mulwala: 4.4, 6.4, 11.7, 11.11.77.

Goals: Deniliquin Rams: S. Lloyd 4, R. Gittens 4, A. Durnan 4, J. Hobbs 2.

Mulwala: J. Meade 3, C. Griffiths 2, J. Gash 1, D. McNamara 1, C. McKenna 1, B. Seymour 1, O. Elliott 1, W. Gorman 1.

Best: Deniliquin Rams: R. Gittens, T. Gallagher, S. Lloyd, C. Fitzpatrick, H. Hillier, A. Durnan.

Mulwala: B. Tyson, C. McKenzie, K. Rowe, J. Meade, D. McNamara, C. McKenna.

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After securing their finals birth in a brilliant win against Cobram the week before, Mulwala made the unenvious journey to Tongala on Sunday to tackle Deniliquin in a cutthroat elimination final.

The sunny Mulwala weather was a distant memory as the clouds emerged and the ever-present gusty winds of Tongala ensured it was going to be a difficult day for football. With the breeze at their backs, Mulwala started the game well with goals to Beau Seymour, Jackson Meade and Dylan McNamara and the Mulwala midfield were making the most of their opportunities moving forward.

The second quarter was always going to be tough however Mulwala were able to minimize the damage from the opposition due to the close checking work of Kade Rowe, Max Hemphill and Connor Griffiths.

The back line was fantastic led by Dylan McNamara and Campbell McKenzie thwarting the multiple advances towards goal of the Deni players assisted by the strong wind at their back.

Brodie Tyson was up against it challenging the Deni ruckmen who were using their larger frames to try and contain his high leaping. But he was proving more than capable when the ball hit the ground, working tirelessly around the ground as an extra midfielder throughout the game.

Oscar Elliott and Charley McKenna utilized their speed throughout the third quarter as Mulwala tried to take an unassailable lead into 3 quarter time knowing the conditions suited their opposition in the last.

Goals to both those boys and Jackson Gash had Mulwala ahead on the scoreboard but beginning to strain under the physicality, and at times, ugly attention shown by the opposition.

A four-goal lead heading into the final quarter and Coach Rowe asked for everyone to seize their moment, however the conditions suited the opposition and they were able to capitalize with multiple goals to literally blow Mulwala away.

The coaches and team have showed great resilience all year unable to field their best team and will be buoyed by the knowledge that their best is always capable of winning games of Murray league football.

With a big preseason Mulwala will surely return to the top echelon in 2025.

A massive thank-you to all the trainers, timekeepers, stewards and all volunteers that enabled the team to play at their best throughout the year and this amazing support received shows Mulwala is the place to be in 2025 and beyond.

Good luck to the Reserves, Thirds, Fourths and netballers still in finals. Let’s bring a premiership home to Mulwala.

Thirds

Mulwala: 3.3, 6.5, 8.8, 9.10.64.

Tongala: 0.1, 1.2, 3.2, 3.2.20.

Goals: Mulwala: B. Donovan 2, B. Johnson 2, A. Purtle 2, H. Lonergan 1, T. Sanderson 1, J. Sneddon 1.

Tongala: E. Swiggs 1, Z. Neumann 1, J. Johnstone 1.

Best: Mulwala: R. Bone, J. Ibbott, B. Johnson, B. Sissons, A. Purtle, R. Burgess.

Tongala: H. Kellett, E. Swiggs, Z. Neumann, S. Battiscombe, M. Petersen, J. Johnstone.

An elimination final at the home of football – Lonsdale Reserve in Mulwala was an enticing entrée to the start of the Murray League finals.

The Under 17 boys came out all guns blazing as Tige Sanderson kicked a ripper of a goal within the first 2 minutes that set the scene for the first quarter.

Brock Johnson and Riley Bone were tearing the Tongala midfield apart early and the result was the forward half return from Jai Sneddon and Baxter Donovan kicking goals to set Mul up with a 3 goal lead at quarter time.

The second quarter was similar with Jordan Ibbott and Rhys Burgess controlling the back half not allowing Tongala any easy forward entries and the wings of Beau Sissons, Ollie Watson, Van Kreeck and Nash McNamara moving the ball quickly from defense to attack leaving their opposition flat footed and out of position.

The forward line were the beneficiaries of the quick play and when Brock moved forward to team up with Hunter Lonergan, Mulwala looked impressive with their quick play. With the game all but over at half time, the boys slowed up slightly in the third and fourth quarters as their opponents went about getting under their skin more than getting the ball.

However Mulwala were still able to extend their lead thanks mostly to the masterstroke of moving Archie Purtle forward as Mulwala moved on towards a Semi Final next week against Barooga and will be confident having got the first finals victory on the board for 2024.